This morning the critters were extremely pleased to see the sun was shining because they had a big day of ping-hand planned!

For those of you not familiar with ping-hand (the critters only invented ping-hand last week so the chances are you haven't come across it yet), it's basically a cross between handball and pingpong. All you need is a line (if you forget to bring chalk a crack in path works just as well), two pingpong racquets and a pingpong ball.

Leila the giraffe and Rosie the red panda were having a rather vigorous game

when Leila got a little overzealous and hit the ball with all her might, catapulting it down the path.

Seeing as she was the one that hit the ball it was only fair that she get it. As she approached the ball she looked up to see the most handsome creature walking towards it. Blushing a little she kept walking and tried to think of something witty to say.

'I'm Leila and we're playing hand-ping' was all that came out. A pang of embarrassment overcame her momentarily, but the stranger quickly introduced himself as Xavier the zebra and conversation flowed easily from there.

As the two of them walked back towards the others (who were very intrigued as to what was taking Leila so long!), Xavier asked Leila if she would like to take a stroll around the park with him. Leila agreed immediately, saying it was probably someone else's turn at ping-hand anyway.

Leila introduced Xavier to the other critters and explained they would be back in a bit.

Off they went hand in hand.

They had a positively wonderful time and Xavier even picked a flower for Leila! She couldn't believe her luck, Xavier was a true gentleman (and spunk). When their stroll came to an end they exchanged details and promised to see each other again soon.

The minute Leila got home she put the flower in a vase and hoped it would last a really, really long time!

Xavier the Zebra

Xavier is a GIVEAWAY! To win this very spunky zebra here's what you have to do: